Ashley Owen

• ‘Frankly my dear . . . we need to include Franking Credits in reporting and portfolio planning’ Here’s what they’re worth

   "Franking credits on dividends on Australian shares can add more than 1% per year to returns for Australian shareholders," says Ashley Owen, "but many professionals don’t include the value of franking credits in their clients’ returns – either historical, or forecast".

• Are we there yet? – on cash rates

  "Central banks have delivered the most aggressive rate hikes in a generation, but cash rates in Australia, US and elsewhere are still below pre-GFC levels. How high will interest rates need to go? " says Ashley Owen

• Ashley Owen analyses 2024-2025: a year of double-digit returns for diversified portfolios

  "2024-2025 was the third straight year of solid double-digit returns for diversified ‘passive’ ETF investors and a standard 70/30 (‘balanced’) fund or ETF portfolio should have returned near 12% after fees. Did yours?" asks Ashley Owen

• Aussie retirement funds have the highest ‘growth/defensive’ asset mix in the world – Does this mean they are highest risk?

  "Aussie retirement funds have the highest ‘growth/defensive’ asset mix in the world – does this mean they are highest risk?  What is the best or ideal asset allocation for long term investment funds, including retirement/pension funds?" asks Ashley Owen

• Australia -vs- rest of the world on Inflation & Interest rates

  "The RBA is lagging has more work to do! In Sept 23 quarterly inflation rose from 0.8% to 1.2%, but cash rate's been sitting at 4.1% since June 23, after 12 rate hikes. Is the RBA doing enough? " asks Ashley Owen,

• Australia’s extraordinary population-led growth!

  "In January 2024, Australia’s population reached 27 million. This came 18 years sooner than the government planned and predicted just 22 years ago! Lets discuss why this is critical for investors and how it shapes our investment markets and outcomes." says Ashley Owen.

• Big changes in the world since Trump 1.0 – Part 1: Growth picture

  Ashley Owen says the ‘big picture’ has changed for long term investors and looks at some big changes in the world since Trump's re-election that impact investors everywhere.

• CBA in 7 charts – the ‘Steven Bradbury’ of Australian banking – suddenly a ‘growth stock’?

  Ashley Owen examines why CBA has been in the headlines of late for a few reasons – for re-taking the lead from BHP to be the largest ASX-listed company by market value, for being the most over-priced bank in the world, and also for having the most mysterious share price surge this year.

• Five reasons why the RBA is not cutting rates like rest of the world

  The RBA is getting a lot of political heat for not cutting interest rates like many other central banks around the world. Ashley Owen analyses whether the RBA is helping or ‘smashing the economy’.

• Higher inflation equals lower real returns on all assets

  "Higher inflation in future means lower nominal (headline) returns on asset classes & portfolios, and lower real (inflation-adjusted) returns. A big change from the past 30 years", says Ashley Owen

• How do we rate? – The Debt Olympics

  "Australia and Australians loaded up on debt in the GFC and again in Covid, but how do we stack up against other countries? The answer is probably very different to what you thought. " says Ashley Owen

• Last time we had an inflation-busting rate-hike recession – shares surged! This Time is Different - or is it?

  "Nothing scares investors more than news of a ‘recession!’ But why? Recessions have mostly been good for Australian shares!" says Ashley Owen, "Contrary to the popular myth that recessions are bad for share markets, in the vast majority of economic ‘recessions’ in Australia over the past 150 years, the local share market has actually risen! "

• Market Monitor - end June 2023

  Ashley Owen's Market Monitor - a quick snapshot of key events affecting investors and investment markets, especially from an Australian perspective

• Market Monitor – 2024: Great returns from almost all asset classes despite constant recession fear

  "Despite continual tiresome warnings of a USA-led global recession from economists & market ‘experts’, plus a host of other threats - almost all of the main asset classes did well in 2024, beating inflation, & most did better than their long-term averages." says Ashley Owen

• Market Monitor – end August 2023: 'Sticky inflation' + 'What’s keeping the AUD down'

  "It's a confused picture this month with share markets lower across the board from profit taking, interest rate hikes slowing, inflation receding, central bankers warnings,and bond yields flat in most markets", says Ashley Owen

• Market Monitor – end July 2023: ‘Are you feeling lucky?’

  "Share markets are surging back toward their 2021 covid stimulus tech-bubble peaks! After a dozen rate hikes, inflation is easing, rate hikes are slowing, jobs & wages remain strong. What’s not to like? "says Ashley Owen

• Market Monitor – October 2023 wrap-up: Central banks not done yet with rate hikes, military tensions rise

  "Welcome to the Monthly Market Monitor for October 2023. First, here is our quick snapshot of Australian and US share markets, short- and long-term interest rates, inflation, and the AUD since the start of 2020" explains Ashley Owen

• Market Monitor: February 2025 snapshot: Trump bump turns into slowdown fears – What moved markets and why?

  "What happened in markets in Feb 2025 and why?" asks  Ashley Owen...talking about the monthly snapshot on global markets for Aussie investors, and the profit reporting season wrap-up plus share price winners & losers.

• Most active fund managers continue to destroy value and line their pockets with your money – why do we let them? harder!

  "For the past 20 years, global index provider S&P Global has published regular surveys of active fund performance in Australia & other major world markets called ‘SPIVA’ (‘S&P Index Versus Active’). Lets look at the results" says Ashley Owen.

• October 2024 snapshot: shares & bonds fall as Trump takes lead

  Ashley Owen's snapshot on global markets for Aussie investors – including Top 5 factors moving markets & covering Australian & US share markets, short & long-term interest rates, plus the AUD/USD exchange rate